Fluid-tight joint for steam-pipes and the like



T. G. TULLOCH.

FLUID TIGHT JOINT FOR STEAM PIPES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30. 1918- 1,339,636, Patented May 11, 1920.

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- FLUID-TIGHT JOINT FOBiSTEAH-PIIES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 80, 1918. Serial No. 214,488.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS Glmoomn TULLOGH, a subject of the Kin of Great Britain, residing at Bank Buil KW, King street, St. James, in the city of estminster and county of London, England, have invented Certain new and useful Improvements in or Relatin to Fluid-Tight Joints for Steam-Pipes an the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fluid tight joints suitable for superheated steam pipes, exhaust pipes or jo nts of engines, engine cylinders made in two parts or with inspection covers and for other cases where tubes or cylindrical members require to be connected in a fluid tight manner.

According to thls invention the ends of the jointed members are each formed with an annular recess or rabbet in the adjacent faces, in which. recess a cupped ring of flexible steel or other highly resilient hard metal is placed, the edges or sides of which are slightly compressed when the jointed members are drawn together by bolts or other suitable means. The tube or cylinder ends are usually flanged and the recess is formed in the face of each flange while the outer edge of the flange is formed with a rim through which the connecting bolts are passed. The cupped ring ma be made thicker in the middle than at tlie the latter only need be flexible, the metal preferably tapering to the edges and the sides spreading out so that on tightening up the joint the sides are slightly compresse and the edges caused to ite against the sides of the recess.

The metal ring' acts much in the same manner as a cup leather but withstands high temperatures as well as high pressures and does not deteriorate ra idly. The internal pressure causes the exible sides to be pressed more tightly against the walls of the recess, so that the only effect of increased pressure is to increase the tightness of the joint but the resiliency of the hard metal is relied on for the joint as distiguished from prior proposals in which cupped rings of lead or other relatively soft and deformable metal are employed.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect I will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which sides, as 1 Figure 1 is a section of a pipe rovided with the1mproved joint, and p Patented May 11, 1920.

Fig. 2 shows the application of the metal packing ring to the oint between the inspectlon cover and bo y of an internal combustlon engine 0 linder.

Referring to t e pipe joint, A, Aare thev pipe endsprovided with flanges a connected together I}; the bolts a andformed with the recesses B which receive the cupped metal ring C. When the pipe ends are tightened up the recesses B form an internal annular channel in which the rin C is compressed so that the tapering si es 0 press tightly against the walls of the channel. T e internal pressure acting upon the inner face of the cupped ring assists in tightening the joint around the ring and. owing to the recessed form of the joint movement of the fluid through the ipe sets up eddymotion which prevents ris of the fluid being directed under either edge of the ring and enables the full expanding effect of the pressure to-be obtained.

A small annular lip a, may be formed at the inner edges of the recess B to give increased protection to the edges of the ring C.

In Fig. 2 the arrangement of rin C and recess or channel-B is substantially 51c same as in the construction just described but the channel is formed at the annular joint between the inspection cover D and the endof the cylinder D of an internal combustion engine. The internal pressure in the cylinder D causes expansion of the cupped ring C and maintains the joint at d tight. The cover is secured in place by the screw studs d.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 2- 1. A fluid tight joint of the kind set forth comprising a pair of jointed flanged members adapted to produce between the adjacent faces of the anges a single jointand an annular channel, a cupped flexible walled ring of a hard and resilient metal placed in the said channel ,and supported y said jointed members so that the portion of said ring extending between the walls covers the joint between the meetin of the flange portions of the jointe members, and means for connecting the said jointed members so as to compress the sides faces of the said ring a ainst the elastic resistance Lssopse 2. A fluid tight joint of the kind set forth,

comprising a pair of jointed flange mcmbers adapted to produce between the adjacent faces of the flanges a single joint and 5 an annular channel, a small annular lip on each of the said members at the inner edge of said channel, a cup 41 flexible walled ring of a hard and resilient metal in said channel, and inclosed by the annular lips on 10 said jointed members, said ring being supported by said jointed members so that the portion of the ring extendingbetween the walls covers the joint between the meeting faces of the flange portion of said members,

and means for connecting the said jointed 15 members to compress the sides of said ring against elastic resistance of\the metal for the purpose described.

THOMAS GREGORIE TULLOGH. 

